"You are a born diplomat," he told her. "What sort of a concession do you want to make you hold your tongue?"
"Jack," she said pleadingly, changing her voice into earnestness, "won't you marry May? If you only knew how I want you to be rich and taken care of."
"Mr. Frostwinch has offered me a place in the bank, mater, with a salary that's about as much as I've paid for the board of one of my ponies."
"What could you do on a salary like that? You won't break the engagement when you see May this afternoon, will you? Promise me that."
"She may break it herself."
"She won't unless you make her. Promise me, Jack."
He smiled down into her face as if a sudden thought had come to him, and a gleam of mischief lighted his brown eyes.
"The engagement, such as it is," he returned, "may stand at present as you've fixed it, if you'll give me your word not to mention it or to meddle with it."
"I promise," she said rapturously, and pulled him down to kiss him fervently before departing.
Then in the conscious virtue of having achieved great things Mrs. Neligage betook herself home to dress for a luncheon.